Eliza Suggs

Elizabeth Gertrude Suggs was a woman born to former slaves, in 19th century America. She was born on December 11th, 1876, in Bureau County, Illinois. Her parents had three daughters before her, born in the same area. At birth, she appeared to be a totally normal baby, but soon her parents began to realize that something wasn’t quite right. Her bones broke with the gentlest of moves, and they did not expect their fourth child to live very long. However, she went on to live far into her twenties, perhaps even her thirties (though her date of death is unknown). There is not much that is known about Eliza Suggs, beyond the information supplied to us in her single book, "Shadows and Sunshine" (link: [http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/suggs/suggs.html] ), published 1906.

Childhood

At four weeks old, Eliza Suggs began crying incessantly. It took her mother a day to realize that her infant daughter had broken a limb. After that bone had healed, Eliza’s arm broke. For the next six years, Eliza could barely move, much less even sit up on her own. Where the average child’s day consisted of playing and having fun with friends and siblings, hers consisted of sitting in her carriage before the window, only able to watch the others. When Eliza was around five or six years old, her parents had her burial clothes made. As soon as the garments were finished, they expected to need to use them in short order, half wishing that their daughter’s suffering would end. Much to their surprise, their daughter hung on, growing up to be quite the remarkable lady. In the beginning, the doctors could not find out what was wrong with her. However, as she grew older, and medical techniques slowly grew better, she was eventually diagnosed with what was then called Ricketts, or what is more modernly called Osteogenesis Imperfecta [Osteogenesis Imperfecta]

Education

Eliza Suggs, by the time she was in her twenties, was by no means an uneducated woman. In her early years, she didn’t get around or out much, but when her family moved to a new area, they were lucky to know the teacher of one of the local schools. However, Eliza’s classroom was upstairs, and therefore virtually impossible for her to access on her own. After close family friends donated a chair more suitable than Eliza’s baby carriage that was her main mode of transportation, it was decided that she would be able to attend school. Her mother or her sister Kate (her primary caretaker) would wheel her to school with the rest of the girls, and would carry her up the stairs to the classroom. She would be deposited there for the day, and at the end of the day, her mother or sister would come and get her again, carrying her down the stairs, and wheeling her back home. This allowed Eliza to learn everything her sisters and friends were learning, and resulted in her becoming an educated woman, which was strange for a woman of black heritage, even after the Civil War (link: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_Civil_War] ) had ended.

Father

James Suggs, Father of Eliza was born in North Carolina, August 15th, 1831. He was born into slavery along with a twin brother. He was sold to two new masters during his lifetime. James was what is known as a valuable slave. He was a blacksmith who worked on his own time making and selling small items like waffle irons and horseshoes. He was not aloud to go to school, so he stole his education from his maters children. His master bought a new slave girl by the name of Melinda Filbrick. They soon fell in love and were married. Around the time of the civil war, James’ master asked him to hide his sheep from the north. In the process of hiding his sheep, he went against his masters wishes and enlisted in the Union army. For three years James was involved in the civil war. Once the war was over he and his family were listed as “free slaves in a free county”.
Soon after the war, James decided to become a Reverend of the state of Illinois. He and his family of four daughters and his loving wife Melinda devoted themselves to God and their chosen religion. On his deathbed Melinda asked him what she was to do after his death, and he stated “The Lord will provide”. He died at home May 22, 1889.